Clamp type ski binding



NOV. 9, 1954 JONES, JR 2,693,967

CLAMP TYPE sx: BINDING Filed Aug. 23, 1950 United States Patent 2,693,967 CLAMP TYPE SKI BINDING Charles H. Jones, Jr., Lunenburg, Mass. Application August 23, 1950, Serial No. 181,013

3 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) This invention relates to means for attaching skis to ski boots and has for its principal objects to provide means for fastening both the heel and toe of the boot to the ski so that normally the heel cannot be lifted away from the ski during ski maneuvers, which will be completely concealed between the bottom of the boot and that part of the ski on which the boot rests, which is easily operable to lock the ski to the boot, which will free itself of ice and snow during the attaching operation, which is inexpensive to make, easy to install without making permanent changes in the skis or boots, and which is durable.

As illustrated herein the device comprises a pair of spaced plates fixed to the bottom of the boot, a second pair of spaced plates fixed to the ski, the plates being constructed and arranged to lie wholly between the bottom of the boot and the ski, and means for eifectingl relative movement of the plates to interengage them, and hence to lock the ski to the boot. The plates on the boot are permanently screwed at a predetermined spacing, one at the heel and one at the toe, and have notches with which parts of the plates on the ski may be interengaged. The plates on the ski are fastened so that at least one may be moved longitudinally thereof and by longitudinal movement, may be spaced sufliciently from the other to interlock them with the plates on the boot. A cam member fast to the ski serves to move the movable plate. In the preferred form of the invention the plates on the ski are positioned to fit between the plates on the shoe with some clearance, and the cam is adapted to increase the distance between them so that they are wedged between the plates 'on the boot by actuation of the cam. Alternatively, the plates on the ski are placed astride the plates on the boot and the cam member and one of the plates on the ski, preferably the plate at the toe end, are arranged to have engagement with opposite sides of the toe plate on the boot. In this form the toe plate may be clamped to the ski with or without looking engagement of the heel plate and hence as illustrated, the toe may be locked to the ski, leaving the heel free. In either form of the invention one or more of the plates may be adjustable longitudinallylto vary the initial spacing thereof for different size s oes.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation of a conventional ski boot clamped to a ski by the improved clamping means illustrated herein; I 1

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the boot showing the clamping members attached to the heel and toe portions there- Fig. 3 is a top view of the ski with the clamping members and cam lever fastened thereto, showing locking engagement of these members with the clamps on the bottom of the shoe which are shown in phantom.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the ski showing the cam lever moved to a position to release the forward clamp plate on the ski from the clamp plate on the boot;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical side elevation of an alternative form of clamping means; and

Fig. 7 is a planned view of the ski having the clamping means fastened thereto and shown engaged with the clamps on the boot, the latter being shown in phantom.

' consists of a pair of plates 22 and Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a conventional type of ski boot 10 consisting of an upper 12 and stiff bottom including a sole 14 and heel 16. The boot is attached to a ski 18, only a portionof which is shown herein, by clamping means indicated generally at 20 which secures both the toe and heel to the ski so that the skier may participate in the so-called French mode or teaching of skiing. That is, according to the most recent Frenchteaching, the skiers feet should be anchored to the ski at both the heel and toe so that he may lean forwardly to shift his center of gravity ahead of his feet and without losing balance, and thus ski with his body inclined forwardly. Most of the present bindings do not permit the skier to throw his weight forwardly since the heel is not securely attached to the ski and to do so to the extent of moving his center of gravity beyond the point of stability would result in his falling forwardly. In this type of skiing where the heel is clamped securely to the ski, turns and other maneuvers are effected by shifting the weight forwardly of the center of gravity and then throwing the shoulders from side to side rather than by ankle, leg and thigh motion previously used to effect maneuvers.

The clamping apparatus disclosed herein is designed to permit this mode of skiing and is further designed to be concealed almost completely between the bottom of the shoe or boot and the top of the ski to which the boot is to be attached so that there will be no parts projecting to be caught on the companion ski and boot or in brush, so as to upset the skier. The clamping means 24 (Fig. 2) attached to the bottom at the heel and toe respectively by means of screws 26. Each plate has a reentrant notch 28 therein and the Walls 30 of the notches are inclined, forming with the bottom of the shoe reentrant grooves. Preferably the notches 28 are widest at their entrance and converge toward their ends in opposite directions. Another pair of plates 32 and 34 are fastened to the ski 18 so that in one position their spacing is less than the spacing of the plates 22 and 24, and in another posi-' tion they may be moved into engagement with the plates 22 and 24. Each of the plates 32 and 34 have wedgeshaped portions 36 and 38 shaped to enter the notches 28 of the plates 22 and 24 and each has beveled edges 40 for interlocking engagement with the inclined walls 30 of the plates 22 and 24. The plates 32 and 34 each have spaced countersunk openings 42 in which are seated blocks 44 through which screws 46 are inserted for fastening the plates to the ski. The openings 42 in the plates 32 and 34 are longer than the blocks 44 and there are elongate screw holes through the bottoms of the openings. The screws 46 are screwed down tight to hold the plate 32'fixed but may be backed oif when occasion demands to adjust theposition of the plate longitudinally of the ski. The screws 46 for the plate 34 are not brought up tight, 'thus permitting the plate 34 to slide longitudinally so as to increase the spacing between theplates 32 and 34. "A

cam 48 is fastened by means of a screw 54 to the ski so as to bear against the rear edge of the plate 34 and by rotation from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 3 to force the plate 34 forwardly and hence to Wedge the beveled end portions 36 and 38 into en-J gagement with the inclined walls of the plates 22 and 24. A handle 52 affords means for operating the cam and when the parts are spread into locking engagement the handle, except for the terminal end thereof which has a depending lip 54, is entirely concealed beneath the instep of the boot.

While dovetailing portions formed by beveled and inclined edges are used to afford the interlock between the plates as illustrated herein, it is apparent that tongue and groove construction could be employed, or for that matter any suitable interengaging interlocking construction. The construction used herein, however, is preferred since it affords the least difficulties with clogging due to accumulation of ice and snow, and the plow-like shape of the clamping elements on the ski serve when they are pushed into the notches in the plates on the boot, to eject the ice and snow, and hence to clean themselves as they are applied.

An alternative form of clamp is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein a heel and toe may be clamped securely to the ski and/or the toe alone may be clamped to the ski in the event thtat the skier Wants to follow the conventional form of skiing rather than the so-called French type referred to above. In this case the boot is provided with a pair of plates 56 and 58 fastened thereto by screws 60. The plate 56 has a semicircular notch 62 therein facing forwardly, the wall 64 of which is inclined, that is undercut. The plate 58 is substantially rectangular extending transversely of the ski, and has parallel inclined or undercut opposite edges 66. The ski has on it plates 68 and 70, the former being circular and having a beveled edge 72 for engagement with the undercut wall 64, and the latter having a beveled edge 74 facing rearwardly for engagement with the forwardly facing undercut wall 66. In this form of the invention the cam 76 is pivoted at 7 8 so as to engage the rearwardly facing reentrant edge 66 of the plate 58 opposite the plate 70 and operates when rotated to press the plate 58 on the boot into engagement with the plate 70 and the plate 56 into engagement with the plate 72 if the latter is at the time pressed into contact with the ski. In addition to engaging the plates with each other, the forward edge of the cam 76 is beveled at 80 to have engagement with the undercut rearwardly facing edge 66 of the plate 58. With this construction the cam not only forces the plate 58 into interlocking engagement with the plate 70, but also locks the plate 58 against the surface of the ski, independently of whether the plates 56 and 72 are engaged. Accordingly the skier may purposely lift the heel of the shoe so as to hold the plate 56 out of engagement with the plate 72 and then lock the toe to the ski by manipulating the cam 76 so as to squeeze the plate 58 between it and the plate 70. The cam 76 is provided with an operating arm 82 as in the previous instance.

The clamping plates and cams and also the attaching screws and blocks are preferably made of rust-resistant metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, etc., and it is contemplated that they may be manufactured by stamping from stock. Aluminum plates of approximately A" stock are suitable while A stainless steel provides adequate strength. The stainless steel has the advantage of being thinner than the aluminum for a given strength and takes up less room between the bottom of the boot and the ski. It is also within the scope of the invention to mold the clamping elements from some of the known extremely durable and strong plastics such as Fiberglas.

The principal advantages of these clamps are their dependability in holding the boots firmly clamped to the skis, their case of application without modifying the boots or skis in any permanent manner, the ease with which.

they can be applied and removed during skiing, the fact that they are self clearing of ice and snow, and the fact that they readily lend themselves to manufacture at comparatively low cost.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is' for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Attaching means for securing a ski boot toa ski comprising, plates fast to the bottom of the ski boot near the tip of the toe and at the heel, and spaced plates fast to the ski at the place where the boot is to be attached,

said plates on the boot and ski forming pairs and having mutually, interengageable portions for locking the pairs of plates together, a cam fastened to the ski at a place which will be beneath the arch of the boot when the latter is resting on the ski, said cam being engaged with one of the plates of a pair of said mutually engageable plates and operable to displace the plate with which it is engaged into mutual engagement with the other plate of the pair with which it is paired, and simultaneously to effect mutual engagement of the plates of the other pair of plates, and a lever extending from the cam laterally between the arch of the boot and the ski to a place adjacent to an edge of the ski so as to be easily excessible for manipulation of the cam.

2. Attaching means for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising, plates fast to the bottom of the ski boot near the tip of the toe and at the heel at a predetermined spacing, said plates having facing re-entrant openings with grooved walls, plates fastened to the ski, said plates being spaced lengthwise thereof at a lesser spacing than the spacing of the plates on the boot with one of said plates movable relative to the other to increase the spacing therebetween, said plates on the ski having portions adapted to enter into the re-entrant openings of the plates on the boot by moving the movable one of the plates on the ski away from the fixed one, and having grooved walls interengageable with said grooved walls on the plates of the boot, a cam fast to the ski, said cam bearing on the movable one of said plates on the ski, and being rotatable to push said plate away from the fixed plate and into engagement with the corresponding plate on the boot with which it mates, and simultaneously to draw the other plates into engagement, and a lever extending from the arm laterally to one side thereof by which the cam may be manipulated.

3. Attaching means for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising, plates fast to the bottom of the ski boot near the tip of the toe and at the heel at a predetermined spacing, plates fastened to the ski at a corresponding spacing, said plates on the ski mating with the plates on the boot and being located to alternate with each other, and having interengageable locking edges, the front side of each plate on the boot engaging the rear side of the mating plate on the ski, and a cam fast to the ski engaged with the rear side of the forward plate of the boot, said cam being rotatable to force the plate with which it is engaged into engagement with its mate and simultaneously to draw the other plates into mating engagement, and a lever extending laterally from the cam to a place close to an edge of the ski.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Hobart Sept. 21, 1852 39,938 Lyon Sept. 15, 1863 355,775 Meek Jan. 11, 1887 1,041,549 Winton et al. Oct. 15, 1912 2,118,892 Mays May 31, 1938 2,510,289 Livermore June 6, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 270,233 Germany Feb. 12, 1914 285,798 Italy May 22, 1931 793,530 France Nov. 23, 1935 

